More Japanese shunning the outside world

By Gavin Blair

Today, it appears that Japan is increasingly looking inward and walling itself off from outside influences — a trend that’s showing up in everything from movies to music to learning languages. Even as the supposedly irresistible tide of globalization washes against Japan’s shores, insular and parochial attitudes are strengthening.

“When I was a university student, courses like English literature, German literature, French literature and foreign languages were difficult to get into, they were so popular,” said Takashi Koyama, a professor at Akita International University. “Nowadays, those courses are struggling to get students.”

Last year, Japan celebrated the 150th anniversary of its reopening to the outside world, persuaded by American gunships to end two centuries of self-imposed isolation.

Japan has traditionally been a curious mix of closed-mindedness and the enthusiastic absorption of outside influences. In the century and a half since signing that treaty with the United States, this “country of contradictions” has struggled in its relationships with all things foreign.

The trend was certainly on display at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony.

The event was the most successful in Japanese cinematic history, landing two gongs, including the first ever full Oscar for a non-animated movie. But even as Japan bathed in the glory of Hollywood approval, pundits and politicians were lining up to explain how the victory by “Okuribito” (Departures) in the foreign language film category reflected the “unique Japanese concept of death.”

The success of “Departures” is part of a renaissance in Japanese films that has coincided with a loss of interest in Hollywood productions. As recently as 2000, imported movies outsold Japanese productions by more than two to one. In 2007, Japanese films took the majority of the box office total for the first time in more than 20 years, and last year, only three overseas films managed to break the top 10.

“Younger Japanese audiences don’t connect so strongly with Hollywood films recently,” said Yusuke Horiuchi of Toho-Towa, which distributes overseas films in Japan.

The increasing market share of domestic movies can be at least partly explained by a recent bump in the quality of Japanese film.

It’s difficult to make the same case for the local music industry. J-pop is still dominated by saccharine acts manufactured by a small number of talent agencies and hit factories here, and yet they too are outselling international artists like never before. The last few years have seen a steady decline in sales of overseas bands with Japanese artists cornering 81% of the market in 2008.

The causes of this increase in parochialism are somewhat hard to identify. A sense of cultural pride, particularly among young people, has certainly developed regarding the popularity of Japanese manga, music and fashion, across Asia, and around the world. The “hungry spirit” that drove Japan’s development from post-war decimation to economic superpower, has inevitably faded, and with it, the notion that interaction with the outside world is a necessity rather than a wish. “As Japan has become more prosperous, fewer people are taking the trouble to learn foreign languages,” Koyama said.

The current global slowdown has been brutal to Japan’s export-driven economy. Whether this reliance on foreign economies emphasizes to Japan the interdependence of today’s planet, or whether the nature of this “imported crisis” increases resentment at the world beyond its borders, remains to be seen.

But whatever its roots, some are worried a rise in nationalist sentiment is mirroring this loss of interest in foreign languages and foreign affairs. “The decline in the English ability of Japanese people also means that people are becoming isolated information-wise,” Koyama said. “Even some of our young diplomats can’t really function in English properly, which means they can’t get information from abroad. It’s a dangerous trend.”

At Akita International University, Koyama teaches all of his classes purely in English. One of the principal aims of the university, founded only five years ago, is to raise the standard of English among young Japanese.

The ministry of education is concerned that the English ability of the Japanese population is slipping behind that of its Asian neighbors, such as Korea and China. So it’s introducing language classes in public elementary schools, though on an ad hoc basis, often using students’ mothers as volunteer instructors.

Indeed, this year’s Academy Awards were also memorable for the very limited English in the two directors’ acceptance speeches — in fact, the younger filmmaker appeared even less comfortable in English than his compatriot, more than two decades his senior.

Kunio Kato did manage to raise a lot of laughter with his halting 40-word acceptance speech for the best animated short, even being hailed as the, “Best Oscar Speech Ever.”

Some observers in Japan however, no longer see creeping isolationism in a globalized 21st century as a laughing matter.

GlobalPost

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Latest 15 of 104 Total Comments Show All

winniebhoy at 01:49 AM JST - 17th March

Some of you haters crack me up man. This site is japantoday aimed at I assume people who carry an interest in whats happening in Japan. Now different points of view are great, keeps things interesting. But there are quite a few jokers on here that seem to hate the bloody place blindly and I cant figure out why they bother coming to the site. Ive been to over 50 countries, im writing today from a city in Brazil called Santarem... trust me I think Japan is spot on for trying to keep its culture intact. Haters what can I say..STOP CRYING!
ClassWarUK at 01:56 AM JST - 17th March

Good Jorb: Sorry mate, i thought you was having a pop at me.
sageb1 at 02:31 PM JST - 17th March

being a foreign-born Jpnz, i have to say Japan aint all hikikomori.

if the Jpnz youth have lost interest in all things foreign, then it could be because home is more important than conquering the world.

but then, what do i know? i may have Jpnz eyes but this heart is a West-East blend.
jessssicaaa at 03:18 PM JST - 17th March

yes distance yourselves, but still keep in touch xD but keep away from from america.. distance yourselves!!!!! america is a bad influence, bad! very bad! they have modernised you thats great.. but american's especially there bullshit movies should be cut out of your lives!! ;DDDDD

aren't i positive ;P but maybe they might be able to bring more of there traditional things back to life by isolating themselves from the other countries.. thats all i wish ;]
ForeignKiri at 03:54 PM JST - 17th March

I think its just a matter of trying to believe in being apart of another world. People dont have faith in the world around them then of course they won't knwo how to except it and evolve with it... despite the superior ideals of their culture... a great psychologist and philospher once said " the robot doesn't need faith since it has no life either..."
biglittleman at 10:19 AM JST - 18th March

yes distance yourselves, but still keep in touch xD but keep away from from america.. distance yourselves!!!!!

Even though I do have my beefs with Japan. A majority of the people hating on Japan seem to be just general haters. They hate America because it dominates internationally (more than Canada, UK, Australia, South Africa), they Japan because they are second class citizens. They hate this website because it doesn't allow free speech and edits or erase anything opinions they don't like despite not breaking any rules.

They are generally unhappy people and find fault with anything.
LostinNagoya at 01:52 PM JST - 18th March

They are generally unhappy people and find fault with anything.

You´re wrong. I have been to a lot of countries and never felt so disattached from the locals like I feel here. Well, as I told before I came to the point of only wanting the J-money, and that´s all.

My two cents this week: A friend of mine, loving Japan, a true nice person felt like s**t when he sat next to a Japanese woman. Immediately she got up from her spot, moved some meters from him and travelled standing, meaning she is allergic to foreigners. I told him to not take this seriously, but I see his disappointment with Japan growing little by little. So sad.
jessssicaaa at 01:53 PM JST - 18th March

i dont find fault with much things.. just dont like america. mainly because they appear to be trying dominate the world, one country at a time.. very soon we will be called "New america" or something the way things are going lol i mean yeh.. other then that im sure america is a nice place..
mistersmarmy at 02:20 PM JST - 18th March

this is a great article which is obvioulsy going to generate the most comments this week. actually everyone is correct in their feedback in one way or another because its such a complicated issue. but why should japanese people who live in japan speak english? of course it would be great if the only language in the world was english, then we wouldn't have to discuss this topic. this language / culture issue also exists in other areas such as Hong Kong, its not exclusive to Japan. The only time Japanese people wish that they knew more English is when they have to go abroad for sometime on behalf of their company and then they find that they are unable to communicate. If they don't travel on business - no problem. A few years ago the French were also very proctionist regarding their language, but even they had to give in to globalization.
Brunobear at 07:48 AM JST - 19th March

America's contribution to the world has been amazing and we have all benefited in some way. When I travel to the US, as an Australian, I get treated wonderfully by every American I have contact with. Speaking the same language is a big help of course but it also reflects the positive attitude Australians have per se to the US. Australians also have a very positive attitude to Japan and understand the difficulties Japanese have because of the language barrier. Australia has had excellent business relations with Japan for sixty years. It is important for anyone in business today dealing internationally that they have a good grasp of English. It is the Universal business language. No one expects ordinary Japanes citizens to bother to learn English more than any ordinary American, Brit., or Aussie is going to learn Japanese. My dealings with senior Japanese businessmen were excellent. We have "boguns" in Australia which are an embarrassment to us through their displayed ignorant behavior. I would hate anyone to judge Australia on just on its boguns. The world is going to get much closer, the current financial crisis is because of countries taking universal steps to benefit themselves at the expense of others, e,g, artificial low exchange rates, mercantilism and fraud. We have to great care in our relationships.
jessssicaaa at 05:45 PM JST - 19th March

of course it would be great if the only language in the world was english

Thats kind of selfish isnt it? i know most of the population are english speakers, but other languages are unique to them and maybe it's us english speakers who should stop pressuring those who dont speak it and start learning theres? Of course it would be difficult to learn all languages but if we're visiting a place we should do as the old saying goes "when in rome do as the romans do" Just as they would try in ours.

but then again, we'd have to learn so many, and they have to learn two, there own and English, Why stress ourselves? lol like i said there language/culture is unique to them and so far most countries, including japan are being transformed into the english world and appear to be slowly changing there way of life for ours or better to say americanized. even my own conutry is being effected with that. ;]
cleo at 05:59 PM JST - 19th March

of course it would be great if the only language in the world was english

No it wouldn't. It would be like only ever having bread and butter to eat, only having jeans and tshirts to wear, only having one kind of music to listen to.

Variety. Spice. Life.
grafton at 12:33 AM JST - 20th March

Think more carefully of what it is you (so many of you ) are asking of the Japanese people. If it were asked of you & yours in your own country you would rebel against it. Japan like any other country is different to your own country, so why would you want it to be the same? When I have travelled in Spanish speaking countries I have found myself helping out the English speakers who don’t speak the language & in the process even though I have been just as much a foreigner I have been accepted by the locals in a friendly way, because I could share ideas with them in their language. My spoken Japanese is c—p, but I try & in the process so long as I act in a none intrusive & none patronising way I make friends. I never expect anybody to speak the same language as me & when they do I show them respect & give thanks because it makes my live easier, I do not just accept it as a right.

To reason that Japan is falling back into some form of isolation based on the sales of American film & music is utter rubbish. American media has become more self interested in the last few years, it is no longer relevant to the rest of the world. A general decline in anything of worth coming out of the US will result in a decline in take up in Japan. Japan is losing interest in the US. There is nothing there now that they can identify with, how are Japanese youth to identify with black or latino street gang culture? Yes some do try & are seen for the fools that they look like. When your product is no longer of interest to the buyer you do not condemn the buyer you look at what might be wrong with your product.

All the other Asian countries that are doing better with the English language fall into two basic groups, those that NEED tourism & those that are fighting hard to built international trade. They need the English language, Japan may want & some might even say need tourism, but it is not what keeps the country afloat & never will be. As for world trade, they have that & what short falls they might have they can always (as normal) buy in those people that they might need (like so many of our readers here).

Much of the above was used as a bitter pant by disappointed people that came to Japan expecting to be treated as though they were special only to find that they were treated as what they are, hire help. Many of you may think that your country is the best, & for you there is no reason for you to think anything else. But don’t the Japanese have that very same right? Who are you to say they are wrong simply because you come from some other different culture? Am I saying that the Japanese people & culture are wonderful & perfect? No way. They are people, they have their history & culture & their very own ways of doing things, as do your people & mine. Would any of you be so foolhardy & arrogant as to say that your country is without faults?
jessssicaaa at 10:50 AM JST - 20th March

wow grafton.. alot of reading there lol

Many of you may think that your country is the best, & for you there is no reason for you to think anything else.

I dont think my countries the best, cause its not feeling like my country much at the moment, due to changes that annoy me to the HIGHEST extent. But i know of a few thousand that do think there countrys the best.. and because of that country my country doesnt feel like it used to. ;]
grafton at 07:39 PM JST - 20th March

jessssicaaa at 10:50 AM JST - 20th March

“alot of reading there lol”

Sorry about that, but the level of childish Japan bashing that I read in many of the above posts had got up my nose & had to come out somewhere. There are so many perfect people around these days. You must let me how many spelling mistakes I made because I’m sure as hell not going to re-read it. As for how you feel about your own country, I feel much the same way & haven’t been back there for a long, long time. Not home any more & not missed.